Portable outdoor cooking device, system, and accessory thereof

ABSTRACT

A waste bag holder pivotably coupled to an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder is a rod structure with multiple bends along its length to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shaped portion is configured to support a waste bag. The first and second engaging portions are sized and configured to couple to coupling structure to facilitate the waste bag holder to be pivotably moveable between a use position and a stowed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/143,837, filed Jan. 7, 2021, which is a divisional of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/366,991, filed Mar. 27, 2019, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,888,193, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/650,586, filed Mar. 30, 2018, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Further,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/366,991 is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/885,313, filed Jan. 31, 2018, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,588,461, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/452,483, filed Jan. 31, 2017, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to portable outdoor cookingstations and, more specifically, the present invention relates to anaccessory component that may be employed with portable outdoor cookingstations.

BACKGROUND

Barbequing has become a popular and pervasive tradition in much of theworld. A barbeque grill is a device for cooking food by applying heatdirectly below a grill. There are several varieties of grills but mostfall into one of two categories, either gas fueled or charcoal. Gasfueled grills typically use propane or natural gas as a fuel source,with the gas flame either cooking the food directly or heating grillingelements which in turn radiate the heat necessary to cook the food.Grilling has become a popular method of cooking food due to the uniqueflavors and texture imparted to the food during the grilling process.

A griddle is a cooking device consisting of a broad flat surface thatcan be heated using a variety of means and is used in both residentialand commercial applications for a variety of cooking operations. Thegriddle is most commonly a flat metal plate composed of cast or wroughtiron, aluminum or carbon steel. Griddles are commonly heated directly orindirectly by open flame or electrical elements. Using a griddle placeddirectly on a barbeque grill or over flame burners has also becomepopular when cooking foods not as well suited for cooking directly on agrill over an open flame.

Griddles are often employed for cooking large quantities of food.Managing the food properly, especially in an outdoor setting, oftenbecomes problematic while also maintaining a clean cooking area.Managing the limited space available for the food and waste whilecooking is also challenging. As such, it would be advantageous toprovide a portable outdoor cooking station and/or accessory componentsfor portable outdoor cooking stations, or the like, that limits thechallenges while cooking in an outdoor setting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various devices andsystems of a portable outdoor cooking station and/or an accessorycomponent thereof, such as a waste bag holder device. In one embodiment,the waste bag holder device is configured to hold a waste bag adjacent amain body of an outdoor cooking station. The waste bag holder deviceincludes first and second coupling structures, first and second abutmentstructures, and a waste bag holder. The first and second couplingstructures are each configured to be operatively coupled to the mainbody. Further, the first and second coupling structures are configuredto be aligned with each other so as to define a pivot axis. The firstand second abutment structures are each configured to be operativelycoupled to the main body such that the first and second abutmentstructures are configured to be positioned adjacent the first and secondcoupling structures, respectively. The waste bag holder extends with rodstructure and is configured to be pivotably coupled to the first andsecond coupling structures. Further, the waste bag holder includes au-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions. The u-shapedportion extends to first and second corner portions such that theu-shaped portion and the first and second corner portions are sized andconfigured to facilitate holding the waste bag thereto. The first andsecond engaging portions include the rod structure extending from therespective first and second corner portions so that the first and secondengaging portions are pivotably coupled to the first and second couplingstructures, respectively. With this arrangement, the waste bag holder ispivotably moveable about the pivot axis between a use position and astowed position.

In another embodiment, in the use position, the first and secondengaging portions abut against the first and second abutment structures,respectively, so that the u-shaped portion is positionable within agenerally horizontally oriented plane. In another embodiment, in thestowed position, the u-shaped portion is positionable within a generallyvertically oriented plane such that the u-shaped portion extends along avertically oriented surface of the main body.

In another embodiment, the rod structure extends to define a lengthextending between free ends such that the rod structure extends withmultiple bends along the length. In still another embodiment, the rodstructure is a single piece member extending to define a length betweenfree ends, the rod structure extending with multiple bends along thelength so as to define the waste bag holder.

In another embodiment, the first and second engaging portions eachextend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with afirst elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bag holderpivotably moveable between the use and stowed positions such that thesecond radial bend rotates about the pivot axis and the first and secondcoupling structures. In still another embodiment, the first and secondengaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a secondradial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, thewaste bag holder positionable in the use position with the first radialbend of the first and second engaging portions positioned over the firstand second coupling structures, respectively, and the first elongateportion of the first and second engaging portions positioned against thefirst and second abutment structures, respectively. In yet anotherembodiment, the first and second engaging portions each extend to definea first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongateportion extending therebetween, wherein, prior to the waste bag holderbeing moved to the stowed position, the waste bag holder is moved to alifted position such that the second radial bend is positioned adjacentthe first and second coupling structures so that the waste bag holder ispivotable about the pivot axis to move the waste bag holder to thestowed position.

In another embodiment, the first and second corner portions are definedby an angled extension, the angled extension extending relative to theu-shaped portion such that the first and second corner portions eachextend with an acute angle. In another embodiment, the first and secondcoupling structures are directly coupled to first and second brackets,respectively, the first and second brackets configured to be directlycoupled to the main body of the cooking station.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a wastebag holder device configured to hold a waste bag adjacent a main body ofan outdoor cooking station is provided. The waste bag holder deviceincludes first and second brackets and a waste bag holder. The first andsecond brackets are sized and configured to be coupled to the main body,the first and second brackets each including a coupling structure and anabutment structure. The coupling structure of the first and secondbrackets are aligned with each other so as to define a pivot axis. Thewaste bag holder extends with rod structure to define a u-shaped portionand first and second engaging portions, the u-shaped portion being sizedand configured to facilitate holding the waste bag thereto. The firstand second engaging portions are configured to be pivotably coupled tothe coupling structure of the first and second brackets, respectively,such that the waste bag holder is configured to be pivotably moveableabout the pivot axis to move the waste bag holder to a use position or astowed position.

In another embodiment, wherein, in the use position, the first andsecond engaging portions abut against the first and second abutmentstructures, respectively, so that the u-shaped portion is positionablewithin a generally horizontally oriented plane. In another embodiment,wherein, in the stowed position, the u-shaped portion is positionablewithin a generally vertically oriented plane such that the u-shapedportion extends along a vertically oriented surface of the main body.

In another embodiment, the rod structure extends to define a lengthextending between free ends such that the rod structure extends withmultiple bends along the length. In still another embodiment, the rodstructure is a single piece member extending to define a length betweenfree ends, the rod structure extending with multiple bends along thelength so as to define the waste bag holder.

In another embodiment, the first and second engaging portions eachextend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with afirst elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bag holderpivotably moveable between the use and stowed positions such that thesecond radial bend rotates about the pivot axis and the couplingstructure. In yet another embodiment, the first and second engagingportions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radialbend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bagholder positionable in the use position with the first radial bendpositioned over the coupling structure, and the first elongate portionpositioned against the abutment structure. In still another embodiment,the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a firstradial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portionextending therebetween, wherein, prior to the waste bag holder beingmoved to the stowed position, the waste bag holder is moved to a liftedposition such that the second radial bend is positioned adjacent thecoupling structure so that the waste bag holder is pivotable about thepivot axis to move the waste bag holder to the stowed position.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anoutdoor cooking station includes a main body, a side shelf system, and awaste bag holder. The main body includes a frame structure, the mainbody having a front panel extending between opposite first and secondsides of the main body. Further, the main body includes at least twoside legs extending downward from the main body and the front panelincludes one or more knobs disposed thereon for controlling one or moreheating elements within the main body. The at least two side legsinclude a vertical side panel sized to extend between the at least twolegs. The side shelf system includes a side shelf and a cutting board.The side shelf is configured to be coupled to the main body, the sideshelf defining an upward facing surface with an opening defined therein.The cutting board is sized and configured to be positioned within theopening defined in the side shelf, the cutting board positioned on aledge extending from structure of the side shelf. The waste bag holderis sized and configured to be removably positioned over a top edge ofthe vertical side panel. With this arrangement, the removable waste bagholder, upon being positioned over the top edge of the vertical sidepanel, is configured to extend horizontally below the side shelf.

In another embodiment, the waste bag holder includes a first engagingportion and a second engaging portion spaced apart from each other, thefirst and second engaging portions extending to a u-shaped structure. Inanother embodiment, the waste bag holder includes a first engagingportion and a second engaging portion, each of the first and secondengaging portions including a single back extension and a frontextension. Such single back extension extending linearly along an entirelength of the single back extension to a free end, wherein, upon thewaste bag holder being positioned over the vertical side panel, thefront extension includes a single point contact with a verticallyextending front surface of the vertical side panel. In still anotherembodiment, the waste bag holder includes a first engaging portion and asecond engaging portion each spaced apart from each other, the first andsecond engaging portions each having a single point contact with avertically extending front surface of the vertical side panel.

In another embodiment, the waste bag holder includes a single rod typeelongated structure with multiple bends therein. In another embodiment,the waste bag holder includes a u-shaped structure extending below theside shelf.

In another embodiment, the side shelf system further includes a holderdevice configured to be operatively coupled to the frame structure, theholder device having an elongated portion with a free end such that theelongated portion extends substantially horizontal relative to the upperflat surface of the side shelf and below the side shelf. In yet anotherembodiment, the side shelf system further includes a food pan having alip extending along an upper side of the food pan, the food pan sizedand configured to be positioned through the opening such that the lip ispositionable onto the ledge with the cutting board positionable over thelip of the food pan.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a wastebag holder device for removably positioning over a vertical side panel,the waste bag holder device for holding a waste bag therewith, isprovided. The waste bag holder device includes a u-shaped structure andfirst and second engaging portions. The u-shaped structure includes endsextending to a corner portion, the u-shaped structure sized to receivethe waste bag therewith. The first and second engaging portions eachinclude a back extension with a free end, the back extension configuredto extend vertically and linearly along an entire length of the backextension, the back extension extending to a top extension so as toextend around a top edge of the vertical side panel to then extenddownward to define a front extension. The front extension extends at anacute angle relative to the back extension and includes a surface toabut against the vertical side panel, the front extension extending to alower extension extending away from the front extension to then bend andextend upward to the corner portion.

In one embodiment, the first and second engaging portions and theu-shaped structure is a single rod structure with multiple bendstherein. In another embodiment, the u-shaped structure includes an outerextension extending between a first leg extension and a second legextension, the first leg extension and the first engaging portionextending within a single first plane and the second leg extension andthe second engaging portion extending within a single second plane. In afurther embodiment, the single first plane and the single second planeextend substantially parallel relative to each other. In another furtherembodiment, the outer extension extends substantially perpendicularrelative to the single first plane and the single second plane.

In another embodiment, the lower extension defines a longitudinal axis,the longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with one of afirst and second leg extension defined by the u-shaped structure. In yetanother embodiment, the corner portion includes a junction between a legextension and a holding extension, the holding extension extending at anacute angle relative to leg extension.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodof collecting waste while cooking a food product is provided. The methodsteps include: providing an outdoor cooking station having a main bodywith a frame structure, the main body having a front panel extendingbetween opposite first and second sides of the main body, the main bodyhaving at least two side legs extending downward from the main body, thefront panel having one or more knobs disposed thereon for controllingone or more heating elements within the main body, the at least two sidelegs having a vertical side panel sized to extend between the at leasttwo legs, one of the first and second sides including a side shelfconfigured to be coupled to the main body, the side shelf defining anupward facing surface with an opening defined therein, the opening sizedto receive a cutting board with a through hole defined therein, thecutting board positioned on a ledge extending from structure of the sideshelf; and removably positioning a waste bag holder over a top edge ofthe vertical side panel such that a u-shaped structure of the waste bagholder extends horizontally a distance below the side shelf so that awaste bag removably positioned around the u-shaped structure ispositioned directly below the opening of the side shelf.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anoutdoor cooking station is provided. The outdoor cooking stationincludes a main body and a waste bag holder. The main body includes aframe structure and a front panel, the front panel extending betweenopposite first and second sides of the main body. Further, the frontpanel includes one or more knobs disposed thereon for controlling one ormore heating elements within the main body. The main body includes avertically extending side panel positioned on at least one of the firstand second sides of the main body, the main body including a side shelfcoupled to one of the first and second sides of the main body. The wastebag holder is sized and configured to be removably positioned over a topedge of the vertically extending side panel. With this arrangement, theremovable waste bag holder, upon being positioned over the top edge ofthe vertically extending side panel, is configured to extendhorizontally below the side shelf.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anoutdoor cooking station is provided. The cooking station includes a mainbody and a waste bag holder. The main body includes a frame structureand a front panel extending between opposite first and second sides ofthe main body. The front panel includes one or more knobs disposedthereon for controlling one or more heating elements within the mainbody. The main body includes a side surface defining a first apertureand a second aperture therein, the first and second apertures defined inthe side surface in one of the first and second sides of the main body.The waste bag holder includes a single rod structure with a first freeend and a second free end, the first and second free ends of the singlerod structure configured to be positioned within the first and secondapertures defined in the side surface of the one of the first and secondsides of the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon reference tothe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable outdoor cooking station witha side shelf system, depicting the cooking station with a griddlepositioned thereon, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the portable outdoor cooking station, depictingthe cooking station without the griddle positioned thereon, according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the portable outdoor cooking station andthe side shelf system, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3A is a top view of a side shelf, according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a top view of another embodiment of a side shelf, accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a side shelf, depicting hooks andledges for the side shelf system, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable outdoor cooking station anda side shelf system, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portable outdoorcooking station and a side shelf system, according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A is a perspective top view of the side shelf system of FIG. 6,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a perspective bottom view of the side shelf system of FIG. 6,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portable outdoorcooking station and a side shelf system, according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9A is a perspective top view of the side shelf system of FIG. 8,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a perspective bottom view of the side shelf system of FIG. 8,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an outdoorcooking station, depicting a waste bag holder positioned over a verticalside panel of the cooking station, according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the outdoor cooking station of FIG. 10,depicting the waste bag holder removed from the vertical side panel ofthe cooking station, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the waste bag holder, according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a left side view of the waste bag holder, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a right side view of the waste bag holder, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a top side view of the waste bag holder, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 16 is a front side view of the waste bag holder, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a rear side view of the waste bag holder, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a waste bagholder coupled to a side surface of a cooking station, depicting a wastebag in outline form coupled to the waste bag holder, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the waste bag holder and thecooking station, depicting the waste bag holder in a non-engagedposition and readily removable relative to the cooking station,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a waste bagholder coupled to a cooking station with brackets, depicting the wastebag holder in a use position, according to the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the waste bag holder and outdoorcooking station of FIG. 20, depicting the waste bag holder in a stowedposition, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the waste bag holder in the useposition coupled to the brackets, depicting the waste bag holder withoutthe cooking station, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 22A is an enlarged view of the waste bag holder taken from region22A of FIG. 22, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a front view of the waste bag holder and brackets of FIG. 22,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23A is a cross-sectional view of the waste bag holder taken fromsection line A-A of FIG. 23, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 23B is an enlarged view of the waste bag holder taken from region23B of FIG. 23A, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 24 is a top view of the waste bag holder and brackets of FIG. 22,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the waste bag holder, depicting thewaste bag holder in a lifted position relative to the brackets,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25A is an enlarged view of the waste bag holder taken from region25A of FIG. 25, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the waste bag holder, depicting thewaste bag holder moved to the stowed position or vertical positionrelative to the brackets, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 26A is an enlarged view of the waste bag holder taken from region26A of FIG. 26, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 26B is a cross-sectional view of the waste bag holder taken fromsection line B-B of FIG. 26, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a waste bagholder system, depicting the waste bag holder system coupled to anoutdoor cooking station with the holder in a use position, according tothe present invention;

FIG. 27A is a perspective view of the waste bag holder taken from region27A of FIG. 27, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the waste bag holder of FIG. 27,depicting the waste bag holder positioned in a stowed position,according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 28A is a perspective view of the waste bag holder taken from region28A of FIG. 28, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a portable outdoor cooking station 10with a side shelf system 12 is provided. Such cooking station 10 is madefor outdoor use and is sized and configured to be readily moveable suchthat the cooking station 10 is portable. Further, the portable outdoorcooking station may be of the type that is gas heated. In oneembodiment, the side shelf system 12 may be sized and configured tomaintain cooked or non-cooked food while improving cleanliness of a foodpreparation surface. The side shelf system 12 may also be sized andconfigured to maintain disposable cleaning supplies. In addition, theside shelf system 12 may be sized and configured to hold waste in areadily disposable manner as well as improving cleanliness of a foodpreparation surface. With this arrangement, the side shelf system 12 maybe employed with the cooking station 10.

The cooking station 10 may include a front side 14, a rear side 16, afirst side 18, and a second side 20, the front side 14 being the side auser may stand for cooking food and operating some of the controls ofthe cooking station 10. The cooking station 10 may include a main body22. The main body 22 may include a frame structure 24 to which varioushousing or panel structures may be attached. For example, the framestructure 24 may include panel structures, such as a front wall 26, arear wall 28, and first and second walls 30, 32. In one embodiment, themain body 22 may not include the rear wall 28. The first and secondwalls 30, 32 may include vents 34 or openings therein. The front wall 26may include various components and controls positioned and securedtherewith. The main body 22 may include one or more heating elements,such as four gas burners 35, extending between the front wall 26 and therear wall 28 or rear side 16 of the main body 22. The gas burners mayreceive gas by rotating burner knobs 36 from an off-position to anon-position. Such burner knobs 36 may be coupled to the front wall 26 ofthe main body 22 and may each be aligned with a corresponding gasburner. Each of the burner knobs 36 may include the appropriate valvesand components associated therewith configured to control gas beingsupplied to the gas burners, as known to one of ordinary skill in theart. Further, the main body 22 may also include an igniter switch 38.The igniter switch 38 may be positioned on the front wall 26 or panelsized and configured to ignite the particular gas burners correspondingwith the burner knobs 36 rotated to the on-position. The gas burners maybe fueled with gas, such as propane gas, with a propane gas tank (notshown) or fueled with natural gas, which may be coupled to the gasburners via a gas line 40 and connection valve 42 or the like. Althoughonly some of the primary components for operating the cooking station 10are described herein, the remaining components that may be needed forproper functioning of the cooking station may be incorporated herewithand into the cooking station 10 as known by one of ordinary skill in theart.

The cooking station 10 may include four legs. The four legs may extenddownward from front and rear corners or sides of the main body 22 todefine first and second front legs 44, 46 and first and second rear legs48, 50. Further, the first front and rear legs 44, 48 may include one ormore first cross-members 52 extending therebetween. Similarly, thesecond front and rear legs 46, 50 may include one or more secondcross-members 54 extending therebetween. Such one or more first andsecond cross-members 52, 54 may stabilize and strengthen the legs andweight of the main body 22. The one or more second cross-members 54 mayinclude a gas tank holder 56 coupled thereto such that a gas tank (notshown) may be positioned on the gas tank holder 56 and be readilycoupled to the gas line 40. Furthermore, one or more first and secondcross-members 52, 54 may serve to hold and receive a lower shelf 58.Such lower shelf 58 may be employed for storing or maintaining variouscooking items and/or utensils or the like or anything desired by theuser. Each of the legs may include wheels, such as two caster wheels 59and two fixed wheels 61, positioned at or adjacent to a lower end ofeach of the legs. For example, the second front and rear legs 46, 50 mayinclude the caster wheels 59 and the first front and rear legs 44, 48may include the fixed wheels 61. In another embodiment, only one of thefirst front and rear legs 44, 48 or second front and rear legs 46, 50includes either the caster wheels or fixed wheels. In anotherembodiment, the cooking station 10 may include at least two wheels 59coupled to a base of the frame structure 24 of the cooking station 10.In this manner, the cooking station 10 may be readily moveable to adesired location, thereby, providing portability to the cooking station10 as well as being readily employable for outdoor use at most anydesired suitable location.

In one embodiment, the cooking station 10 may be of the type that canreceive a griddle 60. The griddle 60 may include a flat cooking surface62 with upstanding walls 64 that may extend above and along at least aportion of a periphery 66 of the flat cooking surface 62. In oneembodiment, the griddle 60 may include a trough 68 sized and configuredto facilitate draining grease or unwanted food by-product from the flatcooking surface 62. In one embodiment, the trough 68 may extend along afront periphery 70 of the flat cooking surface 62 that may extend to anopen end 72 at or adjacent to the front and first sides 14, 18 of thecooking station 10. The other end of the trough 68 may be closed orblocked so that grease may only funnel toward the open end 72. Thecooking station 10 may also include a grease catcher 74. Such greatcatcher 70 may include a container portion 76 and a latch portion 78that may be latched over one of the upstanding side walls 64 of thegriddle 60 such that the container portion 76 of the grease catcher 74may be positioned below the open end 72 of the trough 68. In thismanner, grease or food by-product may drain into the container portion76 of the grease catcher 74 and, later, the grease catcher 74 may bereadily removed from the griddle 60 for removing any food by-producttherein. In another embodiment, the cooking station 10 may include agriddle of the type disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Non-Provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 15/582,675, the disclosure of which isincorporated herewith in its entirety. In another embodiment, the sideshelf system 12 depicted herein may be incorporated with other types ofcooking stations, such as gas heated grills, charcoal heated cookingstations, pellet heated cooking stations or any other suitable outdoorportable cooking stations.

Now with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 3A, in another embodiment, thecooking station 10 may include a first side shelf 80 and a second sideshelf 82. The first and second side shelves 80, 82 may be removablysecured to the respective first and second sides 18, 20 of the cookingstation 10. In another embodiment, the first and second side shelves 80,82 may be removably secured adjacent a lower end 84 of the first andsecond walls 30, 32 of the main body 22 such that the first and secondside shelves 80, 82 may extend from the cooking station 10 at a levellower than the cooking surface 62 of the cooking station 10 or even at alevel lower than the burners 35 (FIG. 2) within the cooking station 10.For example, in one embodiment, the first side shelf 80 may include oneor more frame extensions, such as a first extension 86 and a secondextension 88, each of which may extend from an inner side 90 of thefirst side shelf 80. The first and second extensions 86, 88 may be sizedand configured to be coupled to the frame structure 24 or a portion ofthe frame structure 24 of the main body 22. For example, the framestructure 24 may include a first sleeve 92 and a second sleeve 94 withrespective ends positioned adjacent the lower end 84 of the first sidewall 80. Such first and second sleeves 92, 94 may be sized andconfigured to receive the respective first and second extensions 86, 88.Upon inserting the first and second extensions 86, 88 into therespective first and second sleeves 92, 94, a securement device 96 maybe, for example, rotated to readily tighten and secure the first sideshelf 80 to the frame structure 24. Similarly, the first side shelf 80may be readily removed from the frame structure 24 by loosening thesecurement device 96. In this manner, the first and second side shelves80, 82 may be readily removed, replaced and/or upgraded.

As previously set forth, the cooking station 10 includes the side shelfsystem 12. The side shelf system 12 may be incorporated in one or bothof the first and second side shelves 80, 82 or, as depicted, in thefirst side shelf 80. In one embodiment, the side shelf system 12 mayinclude the first side shelf 80 and at least one of a food pan 100, acutting board 102, a holder device 104, and hooks 106 (FIG. 4). Thefirst side shelf 80 may include an upper surface 110 defining an opening112 therein. The upper surface 110 may be a substantially flat surfaceand may be employed as a work surface for assisting in the preparing offood to be cooked. The opening 112 defined in the upper surface 110 maybe sized and configured to receive and hold the food pan 100 and/or thecutting board 102. The upper surface 110 may extend to a periphery 114having a rectangular shape with peripheral side walls 116 or panelsextending downward from the periphery 114 of the upper surface 110 ofthe first side shelf 80.

With respect to FIGS. 3 and 3A, as set forth, the upper surface 110 ofthe first side shelf 80 defines the opening 112 therein. The structuredefining such opening 112 may be rectangular in shape or a rectangularperiphery. In one embodiment, each side of such rectangular peripherymay include an extension 120 that may extend downward from the sides ofthe rectangular periphery. Further, each extension 120 may include aledge 122 that extends inward from a lower end 124 of the extension 120to define a depth 126. The depth 126 may define a distance or lengthfrom the ledge 122 to the upper surface 110 of the first side shelf 80.Such depth 126 may substantially correspond with a thickness 128 of alip 130 of the food pan 100 and/or a cutting board thickness 132. Inthis manner, upon positioning the food pan 100 and the cutting board 102into the opening 112, a first surface or upward facing surface 134 ofthe cutting board 102 may be generally or substantially flush with theupper surface 110 of the first side shelf 80.

In another embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 3B and 4, the first sideshelf 80 may include a variation of the ledges extending fromextensions. In this embodiment, two of the extensions 120 extending fromthe opening 112 defined in the upper surface 110 of the first side shelf80 may not include ledges, but only a downward extending extension 120.Such two extensions may extend from opposite sides of the opening 112defined in the upper surface 110 of the first side shelf 80. Further,two of the extensions 120 may include a ledge 123. The two extensions120 with the ledge 123 in this embodiment may extend from opposing sidesof the rectangular shaped opening 112 defined in the first side shelf 80such that each ledge 123 may extend toward each other. The extensions120 without the ledge 123 may extend downward so as to substantiallyprevent lateral movement of the food pan 100 and/or the cutting board102 (see FIG. 2) positioned on the opposing extending ledges 123.

With reference back to FIGS. 1 and 3, as previously set forth, theopening 112 defined in the first side shelf 80 may be sized andconfigured to receive the food pan 100. The food pan 100 may include abasin portion 136 with four upstanding side walls 138 that extend from abottom wall 140. The upstanding side walls 138 extend upward to thebefore-described lip 130. The lip 130 may extend outward and/ortransverse relative to the upstanding side walls such that the lip 130may extend continuously along an upper periphery 142 of the food pan100. In one embodiment, the lip 130 may extend outward or orthogonalrelative to the upstanding side walls 138 of the food pan 100. The lip130 may extend outward so that an underside surface of the lip 130 maybe positioned on an upper surface 144 of the ledge 122 extending fromthe extensions 120 of the first side shelf 80 and so that the basinportion 136 of the food pan 100 may be suspended below the ledge 122.

In one embodiment, the food pan 100 may be made of a stainless steelmaterial, or any other suitable metallic material. In anotherembodiment, the food pan 100 may be made of a polymeric material. Inanother embodiment, the food pan 100 may include a height 146 or depthof about 70 millimeters or about 2.8 inches or in the range of about 2.5inches to 3 inches. In another embodiment, the height 146 of the foodpan 100 may be in the range of about 2 inches to 6 inches. In anotherembodiment, the food pan 100 may include a length 148 of about 320millimeters or about 12.6 inches or in the range of about 10 inches to14 inches or larger. In another embodiment, the food pan 100 may includea width 150 of about 220 millimeters or about 8.6 inches or in the rangeof about 6 inches to 10 inches.

Further, upon the food pan 100 being positioned over the ledge 122, thecutting board 102 may be positioned within the opening 112 defined inthe first side shelf 80 such that the upward facing surface 134 issubstantially flush with the upper surface 110 of the first side shelf80, as previously set forth. In one embodiment, the cutting board 102may be made of a wood material, such as bamboo or any other suitablecutting board wood material. In another embodiment, the cutting board102 may be made of a suitable polymeric material, such as plastic. Thecutting board 102 may include substantially similar sizing as the lengthand width dimensions of the food pan 100. The cutting board 102 mayinclude the upward facing surface 134 and a downward facing surface 152,both of which may be interchangeable, depending upon how the userpositions the cutting board 102 into the opening 112 of the first sideshelf 80. Further, the cutting board 102 may include a peripheral side154 defining a depth or cutting board thickness 132 of the cutting board102. As previously set forth, the depth may be sized so that the upwardfacing surface 134 sits flush relative to the upper surface 110 of thefirst side shelf 80.

The cutting board 102 may include a cutting board opening 156 definedtherein. Such cutting board opening 156 may be positioned adjacent theperiphery or one side of the cutting board 102 and extend completelythrough the cutting board 102 as a through hole. The cutting boardopening 156 may be elongated and sized so that a user can readily graspthe cutting board 102 to remove or slightly lift the cutting board 102from the opening 112 of the first side shelf 80 to access the food pan100 or to readily remove the cutting board 102 for, for example,cleaning purposes. In this manner, a user may utilize the upward facingsurface 134 of the cutting board 102 for preparing food or for anypurpose desired by the user and the food pan 100 may be employed forplacing cooked food or non-cooked food. Further, the cutting boardopening 156 may be sized so that food or waste may be pushed or slidthrough the cutting board opening 156.

With respect to FIGS. 3 and 5, as previously set forth, the first sideshelf 80 may also include a holder device 104. The holder device 104 maybe sized and configured to receive, for example, a single paper towelroll 162 or for hanging cloth towels or the like over a portion of theholder device 104. In one embodiment, the holder device 104 may becoupled to an underside of the first side shelf 80 and along or adjacenta front side 14 of the first side shelf 80 of the cooking station 10.The holder device 104 may be L-shaped with a first extension 164 and asecond extension 166 each of which may be elongated portions and asingle piece structure. The first extension 164 may include a lengththat is shorter than the second extension 166. The first extension 164may include coupling structure (not shown) for coupling to the undersideof the first side shelf 80 such that the first extension 164 may extenddownward from the first side shelf 80. The second extension 166 mayextend from an end of the first extension 164 and may extendsubstantially perpendicular or transverse relative to the firstextension 164 such that the second extension 166 may extendsubstantially horizontal or parallel relative to the upper surface 110of the first side shelf 80. The second extension 166 may include a firstbend 168 adjacent to a free end 172 of the second extension 166 suchthat the first bend 168 extends upward. The first and second extensions164, 166 may be a single piece structure with a second bend 170 definingthe juncture between the first and second extensions 164, 166. In thismanner, the holder device 104 may extend under the first side shelf 80so that the holder device 104 does not take away space from the uppersurface 110 of the first side shelf 80 while also being at a convenientlocation as the user is cooking or cleaning the cooking station 10 orother articles. In another embodiment, the holder device 104 may becoupled to the frame structure 24 of the cooking station 10. In anotherembodiment, the holder device 104 may be operatively coupled to theframe structure 24 of the cooking station 10. In another embodiment, theholder device 104 may be fixedly coupled (meaning coupled to the firstside shelf 80 or the frame structure 24 of the cooking station 10) so asto extend below the first side shelf 80 in a generally horizontal mannerrelative to the upper surface 110 of the first side shelf 80. In anotherembodiment, the holder device 104 may be in the form of, for example, acable with latches on ends of the cable to couple at two separatepositions on the first side shelf such that the cable is sized to hold,for example, a paper towel roll.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in another embodiment, the cookingstation 10 may include multiple hooks 106, FIG. 4 not showing the holderdevice 104 for simplistic purposes. The first side shelf 80 may includethe multiple hooks 106, such as a first hook 174, a second hook 176, athird hook 178, and a fourth hook 180. The multiple hooks 106 may becoupled to a portion of the first and second extensions 86, 88 of thefirst side shelf 80. The hooks 106 may be sized and configured to beattached to, latch, or hang a garbage bag 163, such as a plastic garbagebag. The hooks 106 may be coupled, for example, adjacent to and belowcorners of the opening 112 defined in the upper surface 110 of the firstside shelf 80 or adjacent to the ledge 122, 123. The hooks 106 mayinclude various structures for clipping, latching, grasping or hangingan article, such as a waste or garbage bag 163. For example, the hooks106 may be in the form of a J-hook so as to exhibit a J-shapedconfiguration. In one embodiment, the hooks 106 may define a downwardextension 182, a base 184, and an upward extension 186, the downwardextension 182 being longer than the upward extension 186. The downwardextension 182 of each of the hooks 106 may be coupled to the frameworkor a portion of one of the first and second extensions 86, 88 of thefirst side shelf 80. The base 184 may extend inward from the downwardextension 182 and the upward extension 186 extends upward from one endof the base 184 to a free end 188.

Each of the hooks 106 having the J-shaped configuration may be mountedto an underside of the first side shelf 80 so as to be positionablyarranged to hold, for example, a waste bag directly under the cuttingboard 102 such that each one of the hooks 106 may face or extend outwardrelative to an oppositely positioned hook 106. For example, the firsthook 174 may extend outward and face toward the front side and the thirdhook 178 may extend outward and face toward the rear side of the firstside shelf 80 such that oppositely positioned hooks 106 face oppositedirections. Similarly, the second hook 180 may extend outward and facetoward the front side of the first side shelf 80 and the fourth hook 180may extend outward and face toward the rear side of the first side shelf80. In another embodiment, oppositely positioned hooks 106 having theJ-shaped configuration may face or extend toward each other. Uponpositioning and attaching, for example, a plastic garbage bag 163 on thehooks 106, a user may readily lift or remove the cutting board 102 anddrop waste into the garbage bag 163 or the user may slide or push wastethrough the cutting board opening 156 to drop waste into the garbage bag163. In this embodiment, the user may not position the food pan 100 ontothe ledges 123 of the first side shelf 80.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, in another embodiment, the user mayinclude the food pan 100 onto the ledges 122, 123 (see FIG. 3) with thecutting board 102 positioned over the food pan 100, and utilize only twoof the hooks 106 of the first side shelf 80. For example, with the foodpan 100 and cutting board 102 positioned within the first side shelf 80,the user may utilize the first hook 174 and the second hook 176 to hanga garbage bag so that the bag may be easily accessible along the frontside 14 of the cooking station 10. Similarly, the user may alsoeffectively utilize the first hook 174 and the third hook 178 so thatthe bag may be accessible along the first side 18 of the cooking station10. In this manner, the hooks 106 may be utilized while also maintainingthe benefits of the food pan 100 and the cutting board 102 of the sideshelf system 12.

In another embodiment, the side shelf system 12 may include a bottleopener device 190. The bottle opener device 190 may be coupled to thefirst side shelf 80. In one embodiment, the bottle opener device 190 maybe fixed to the peripheral side wall 116, such as a front peripheralside wall, of the first side shelf 80. In another embodiment, the bottleopener device 190 may be operatively coupled to the first side shelf 80so as to be coupled to a line that may hang from the first side shelf80.

Now with reference to FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B, another embodiment of sideshelf system 210 secured to a cooking station 212 is provided. Thisembodiment of the side shelf system 210 may include similar structuralfeatures as that described and depicted relative to the side shelfsystem 12 of FIGS. 1 and 3, except in this embodiment the side shelfsystem 210 of the cooking station 212 may not include a food panemployed therewith. Similar to previous embodiments, the side shelfsystem 210 of this embodiment may include a side shelf 214 with an uppersurface 216, the upper surface 216 defining an opening 218 therein. Suchopening 218 may be sized and configured to receive a cutting board 220,the cutting board 220 being readily removable from the opening 218.Further, the side shelf system 210 may include a holder device 222 sizedand configured to hold, for example, a paper towel roll, or for hangingcloth towels or for hanging cooking utensils or the like thereon. Inanother embodiment, the side shelf system may include various hooks 224positioned and mounted to an underside 226 of the side shelf 214. Suchhooks 224 may be sized and configured for hanging a waste bag, forexample, such that the waste bag may be positioned directly under thecutting board 220. Further, as in previous embodiments, the side shelfmay be removably coupled to frame components of the cooking station 212.For example, sleeve extensions 228 may extend from one side of the sideshelf to couple to the frame components of the cooking station 212.

Now with reference to FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B, another embodiment of a sideshelf system 230 sized and configured to be coupled to a portableoutdoor cooking station 232 is provided. This embodiment of the sideshelf system 230 may include similar structural features of previousembodiments of the side shelf system (see FIGS. 1 and 3). For example,similar to previous embodiments, the side shelf system 230 may include aside shelf 234 with an upper surface 236 extending to define a periphery238. The upper surface 236 of the side shelf 234 may define an opening240 therein sized and configured to removably receive a cutting board242. Such cutting board 242 may sit over ledges 244 extending laterallyinward from the opening 240 such that an upper surface of the cuttingboard 242 may be somewhat flush or level with the upper surface 236 ofthe side shelf 234. Further, the side shelf system 230 may include aholder device 246 sized and configured to hold a paper towel roll or anyother suitable utensil or cleaning device.

In this embodiment, the side shelf system 230 may be coupled to thecooking station 232 such that the upper surface 236 of the side shelf234 may be positioned somewhat level with burner structure 248 of thecooking station 232 or level with an upper end of a front panel 250 ofthe cooking station 232. The side shelf system 230 may include a firstcoupling extension 252 and a second coupling extension 254, each ofwhich may be sized and configured to couple to frame structure of thecooking station 232. For example, the first and second couplingextensions 252, 254 of this embodiment may extend downward from anunderside 256 of the side shelf 234 and adjacent one side of the sideshelf 234 in a direction perpendicular relative to the upper surface 236of the side shelf 234. Such first and second coupling extensions 252,254 may be coupled to corresponding frame structure of the cookingstation 232 and may be in the form of sleeve structure, for example.Further, in this embodiment, the upper surface 236 may define ventingstructure 258 in the form of slots or narrow openings extending alongone side of the upper surface 236 adjacent the burner structure 248 ofthe cooking station 232.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, in another embodiment, an outdoorcooking station 272 similar to FIG. 8, may include another version of awaste bag holder 270. For example, the cooking station 272 may include avertical side panel 274 that may be positioned between two side legs 276of the cooking station 272. The waste bag holder 270 may be sized andconfigured to be suspended over a top portion 278 and top edge 279 ofthe vertical side panel 274. Further, such waste bag holder 270 may bepositioned over the vertical side panel 274 so that the waste bag holder270 extends outward and below a side shelf 280 coupled to the outdoorcooking station 272. The side shelf 280 with a cutting board 286disposed therein, as previously set forth in previous embodiments, maybe positioned a distance 282 above the waste bag holder 270. Uponpositioning a waste bag (not shown) over a portion of the waste bagholder 270, food product waste or other waste may be dropped through athroughhole 284 defined in the cutting board 286 or through an opening288 defined in the side shelf 280 (upon removing the cutting board).Further, with the waste bag holder 270 positioned the distance 282 belowthe side shelf 280, the distance 282 between an underside of the sideshelf 280 and the waste bag and waste bag holder 270 facilitates readyaccess to drop waste from one of the sides surrounding the waste bag andwaste bag holder 270. In this manner, waste may readily be disposed ofwhile cooking with the side shelf system while substantially blockingviewability of the waste at the cooking station 272. Further, asdepicted in FIG. 10, the waste bag holder 270 may be employed with theside shelf system, described in previous embodiments, or the waste bagholder 270 may be employed with any suitable vertically oriented panel,without the side shelf system previously described.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 12, the waste bag holder 270 may be sizedand configured to be vertically aligned with the side shelf 280 suchthat, upon positioning a waste bag over the waste bag holder 270, thewaste bag holder 270 may hold the waste bag in an opened spread-outstate to be disposed directly below the side shelf 280 with the distance282 therebetween. In one embodiment, the waste bag holder 270 may besized and configured to be manually positioned over the vertical sidepanel 274. In another embodiment, the waste bag holder 270 may be sizedand configured to be readily removable so as to be manually lifted upand removed from the vertical side panel 274.

In one embodiment, the waste bag holder 270 may extend with a single rodstructure. The single structure may be made from an elongated rod-likestructure with multiple bends along an elongated length of the rod-likestructure. In another embodiment, the single rod structure may be aunitary, seamless, and monolithic structure. In another embodiment, thesingle rod structure may be employed without any other additionalcomponents attached thereto, except for a waste bag.

The waste bag holder 270 may include first and second engaging portions290, 292 each extending to a holding portion 294, the first and secondengaging portions 290, 292 being spaced apart from each other. Suchspaced distance between the first and second engaging portions 290, 292may be less than a distance between the legs 276 of the cooking station272 so as to readily be positioned over the vertical side panel 274. Theholding portion 294 may extend with a u-shaped structure 296 with endsdefining and extending to first and second corner portions 298, 300,each of the first and second corner portions 298, 300 interconnected toand extending from the respective first and second engaging portions290, 292. Such first and second engaging portions 290, 292 may eachextend with a hook like configuration sized and configured to bepositioned over the vertical side panel 274.

For example, with reference to FIGS. 12-14, the first and secondengaging portions 290, 292 of the rod structure may each include asingle back extension 302 with a free end 304, the back extension 302configured to extend along a back side of the vertical side panel 274(FIG. 10). In other words, the first and second engaging portions 290,292 each only exhibits one portion, the back extension 302, extendinglinearly (without bends) along the back side of the vertical side panel274. The back extension 302 may extend from the free end 304 to a firstbend 306 to then extend and define a top extension 308, the topextension 308 extending substantially orthogonal relative to the backextension 302. The top extension 308 may be configured to extend alongthe top edge 279 of the vertical side panel 274 (see FIG. 10). The topextension 308 may extend to a second bend 310 to then extend downwardand inward (away from the u-shaped structure 296) to define a frontextension 312. The front extension 312 may extend downwardly inward witha first angle 314 such that the front extension 312 may extendadjacently along a front side 316 of the top portion 278 of the verticalside panel 274. The first angle 314 may be an acute angle relative tothe vertically extending back extension 302. The front extension 312 mayextend to a third bend 318 such that a backside 320 of the frontextension 312 may engage the front side 316 (FIG. 10) of the verticalside panel 274. In another embodiment, due to the first angle 314 of thefront extension 312, the backside 320 of the front extension 312 thatengages the vertical side panel 274 may be adjacent to or along aportion of the third bend 318 at an engagement point 322 or engagementportion. Such engagement point 322 of the front extension 312 of thefirst and second engaging portions 290, 292 may stabilize the waste bagholder 270 with the back and top extensions 302, 308 positioned over thevertical side panel 274. The third bend 318 defined in the first andsecond engaging portions 290, 292 may extend to define a lower extension324, the lower extension 324 extending to a fourth bend 326. The lowerextension 324 for each of the first and second engaging portions 290,292 may be a transition member between first and second engagingportions 290, 292 and the holding portion 294.

As previously set forth, the holding portion 294 may include the firstand second corner portions 298, 300 corresponding with the respectivefirst and second engaging portions 290, 292 and ends of the u-shapedstructure 296. For example, the lower extension 324 extends to thefourth bend 326, which extends to define a holding extension 328. Theholding extension 328 may extend between the fourth bend 326 and a fifthbend 330 such that the holding extension 328 may extend upward andinward at a second angle 332 to the fifth bend 330. The second angle 332may extend at an acute angle relative to the vertical, such as thevertically extending back extension 302. At the fifth bend 330, theholding extension 328 extends to one of the ends of the u-shapedstructure 296. Further, the fifth bend 330 and holding extension 328 ofthe holding portion 294 defines each of the first and second cornerportions 298, 300. In this manner, the first and second corner portions298, 300 extend to the respective ends of the u-shaped structure 296.

With reference to FIGS. 12-15, the u-shaped structure 296 of the holdingportion 294 may include an outer extension 334 extending between firstand second leg extensions 336, 338. Each of the first and second legextensions 336, 338 extending directly from the respective first andsecond corner portions 298, 300 or the fifth bend 330. Further, thefirst and second leg extensions 336, 338 may extend substantiallyorthogonal relative to the outer extension 334. With this arrangement,the holding portion 294 defining the u-shaped structure 296 and thefirst and second corner portions 298, 300 may readily facilitatespreading and wrapping a waste bag (not shown) along an opening definedin an end portion of the waste bag (not shown) over the holding portion294 of the waste bag holder 270.

As depicted in FIGS. 12-17, in one embodiment, portions of the first andsecond engaging portions 290, 292 may be aligned with portions of theholding portion 294. For example, the first engaging portion 290, in itsentirety, may be aligned with the first leg extension 336 such that thefirst engaging portion 290 (with its various bends and extensions, suchas the back extension 302, front extension 312, lower extension 324, andholding extension 328) and the first leg extension 336 extend within afirst plane 340. Similarly, the second engaging portion 292, in itsentirety, may be aligned with the second leg extension 338 such that thesecond engaging portion 292 and the second leg extension 338 extendwithin a second plane 342. Such first and second planes 340, 342, aspreviously defined, may extend substantially parallel relative to eachother. Further, in another embodiment, the top extension 308 of both thefirst and second engaging portions 290, 292 and the u-shaped structure296 of the holding portion 294 may extend within a third plane 344. Thethird plane 344 may extend substantially orthogonal relative to thefirst and second planes 340, 342. In this manner, the u-shaped structure296 may be aligned level with the top extension 308 of the first andsecond engaging portions 290, 292.

Further, the lower extension 324 may define a longitudinal lower axis346 along its length. The top extension 308 of the first and secondengaging portions 290, 292 may extend longitudinally to define a topaxis 348. The first and second leg extensions 336, 338 may each extendlongitudinally to define first and second leg axes 350, 352. The loweraxis 346 defined by the lower extension 324 may extend substantiallyparallel relative to the top axis 348 defined by the top extension 308and the first and second leg axes 350, 352 defined by respective firstand second leg extensions 336, 338. Further, the top axis 348 defined bythe top extension may extend substantially coaxially relative to thefirst and second leg axes 350, 352 defined by the first and second legextensions 336, 338. In another embodiment, the lower extension 324, thefront extension 312 and the holding extension 328, may extend so as toexhibit a bottom half of a triangular configuration. In anotherembodiment, the first and second leg extensions 336, 338 may extendsubstantially parallel relative to each other. In another embodiment,the outer extension 334 of the u-shaped structure 296 may extendsubstantially orthogonal relative to the first and second leg extensions336, 338. With this arrangement, portions of the first and secondengaging portions 290, 292 may be aligned with portions of the holdingportion 294. Further, such alignment and symmetrical characteristics ofthe waste bag holder 270 provides a low profile device with a minimizedfootprint. Such low profile and minimized footprint is advantageous asan accessory to an outdoor cooking station, especially when managing thecleanliness of the area in which the user is cooking with the outdoorcooking station.

Now with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, another embodiment of a waste bagholder 360 is provided. The waste bag holder 360 may be sized andconfigured to be removably coupled to a cooking station 362 and isconfigured to hold a waste bag 364 (the waste bag shown in dashed linesin FIG. 18). This embodiment of the waste bag holder 360 includessimilar structural characteristics as the previous embodiment, except aback extension 366 of this embodiment of the waste bag holder 360 mayextend upward above a top extension 368 instead of downward, as in theprevious embodiment. For example, the waste bag holder 360 of thisembodiment may include a holding portion 370 extending with a u-shapedstructure having first and second leg extensions 372, 374 and an outerextension 376 extending between ends of the first and second legextensions 372, 374. Further, the waste bag holder 360 may include firstand second engagement portions 378, 380 and first and second cornerportions 382, 384. The first and second corner portions 382, 384 may besized and configured to cooperate with the holding portion 370 forwrapping a peripheral opening of the waste bag 364 thereto. The firstand second engagement portions 378, 380 may be sized and configured tocouple to a side surface 386 of the cooking station 362, such as anupper portion 388 of legs 390 of a framework 392 of the cooking station362 or within a portion of the framework 392 supporting the heatingelements and, for example, a griddle 394 of the cooking station 362. Theside surface 386 may define first and second apertures 396, 398 therein,the first and second apertures 396, 398 sized and configured to receivea free end 400 of the back extension 366 of the respective first andsecond engagement portions 378, 380. With this arrangement, the freeends 400 of the back extensions 366 may be inserted into respectivefirst and second apertures 396, 398 so that the back extensions 366 maybe positioned within a hollow portion of the framework 392 of thecooking station 362. As in the previous embodiment, the first and secondengagement portions 378, 380 may each include structure for anengagement point 402. Such engagement point 402 of each of the first andsecond engagement portions 378, 380 may contact the side surface 386 ofthe cooking station 362 adjacently below the first and second apertures396, 398. In this manner, cooperation of the back extensions 366 withinthe corresponding first and second apertures 396, 398 and the engagementpoint 402 of each of the first and second engagement portions 378, 380of the waste bag holder 360 may facilitate suspending the waste bagholder 360 along one side of the cooking station 362 so that a waste bag364 may be positioned around or over the holding portion 370 of thewaste bag holder 360, similar to that described in the previousembodiments.

With reference to FIGS. 20 and 21, another embodiment of a waste bagholder 410 that may be employed with an outdoor cooking station 412 isprovided. In this embodiment, the waste bag holder 410 may be one partof a waste bag holder system 411. As in previous embodiments, theoutdoor cooking station 412 may be a gas fueled type cooking station, orany other type of cooking station, fueled with wood, lump charcoal,charcoal briquettes, wood pellets, or any other type of fuel. Further,as in previous embodiments, the outdoor cooking station 412 may includea main body 414 with first and second side shelves 416, 418 on oppositefirst and second sides 420, 422, respectively, of the main body 414.Further, one or both of the first and second side shelves 416, 418 mayinclude a cutting board 424 positioned within or associated with thefirst and second side shelves 416, 418, similar to that set forth inprevious embodiments herein.

Further, as in the previous embodiments, the waste bag holder 410 may besized and configured for holding a waste bag (similar to the waste bag364 shown in FIG. 18). However, in this embodiment, the waste bag holder410 is not readily removable from the cooking station 412. Further, inthis embodiment, the waste bag holder 410 may be pivotably coupled tothe outdoor cooking station 412. In one embodiment, the waste bag holder410 may be operatively coupled to the outdoor cooking station 412 withfirst and second brackets 426, 428. For example, the waste bag holder410 may be pivotably coupled to structure associated with the first andsecond brackets 426, 428 so as to be moveable between a use position anda stowed position (or folded or pivoted position). The use position maybe a first position or primary position in which the holder 410 maygenerally extend in a horizontal orientation, the holder 410 sized andconfigured to hold a waste bag thereon, similar to that previously setforth. The stowed position may be a storage position such that theholder 410 may generally extend in a vertical orientation, the holder410 pivotably moveable relative to the main body 414 of the cookingstation 412 or the first and second brackets 426, 428. In this manner,the holder 410 may be in the use position and, if desired by the user ofthe cooking station 412, the holder 410 may be manually moved to adifferent orientation or position so as to extend alongside a verticallyextending surface 430 of the main body 414 of the cooking station 412.Such vertical orientation or position of the holder 410 may beadvantageous for purposes of minimizing a footprint for the regionproximate the coupling of the holder 410 to the cooking station 412, forexample.

Now reference to FIGS. 22-28, the waste bag holder 410 and itsfunctionality will now be described without the cooking station shown inthe drawings, for simplification purposes. With respect to FIGS. 22,22A, 23A, 23B, and 24, the waste bag holder 410 is shown in the useposition with the first and second brackets 426, 428. The waste bagholder 410 may include similar structural features as previousembodiments of the waste bag holder. For example, the waste bag holder410 may extend with rod structure 432 having various bends along itslength, the length extending between free ends 438. The waste bag holder410 may extend with a u-shaped profile or u-shaped portion 435 having anouter extension 434 that may extend between first and second extensions436, 438. The first and second extensions 436, 438 may each extend fromopposite end portions 439 of the outer extension 434 so as to extendinward toward the respective first and second brackets 426, 428 and/orto respective first and second corner portions 440, 442 or bends in therod structure 432. The first and second corner portions 440, 442 may atleast partially be defined by ends or end portions 443 of the first andsecond extensions 436, 438 and u-shaped portion 435. The first andsecond corner portions 440, 442, in conjunction with the first andsecond extensions 436, 438 and outer extension 434 may act to support awaste bag (similar to waste bag 364 of FIG. 18), as set forth inprevious embodiments.

The rod structure 432 from each of the first and second corner portions440, 442 may extend downward and away from the corresponding first andsecond brackets 426, 428 so as to extend with an angle 444, as inprevious embodiments. The rod structure 432 may extend at the angle 444with an angled extension 446 relative to the respective first and secondextensions 436, 438 such that the angled extension 446 may then extendwith multiple bends to define first and second u-shape structures 448,450. In another embodiment, the rod structure 432 may extend with theangled extension 446 to then extend with one or more bends so as todefine respective first and second diverging portions 452, 454. Suchfirst and second diverging portions 452, 454 may diverge outward fromthe respective first and second u-shaped structures 448, 450 of theholder 410. The first and second diverging portions 452, 454 may divergeoutward to extend toward the corresponding first and second brackets426, 428. Such first and second diverging portions 452, 454 mayfacilitate the first and second extensions 436, 438 of the u-shapedportion 435 from interfering with the first and second brackets 426, 428upon the holder 410 being pivoted between the use and stowed positions.

Further, with respect to FIGS. 22A, 23 and 23B, from the first andsecond diverging portions 452, 454, the rod structure 432 may extendwith first and second engaging portions 456, 458. Each of the first andsecond engaging portions 456, 458 may include a first bend 460 and asecond bend 462 with a first elongate portion 464 between the first andsecond bends 460, 462. From the second bend 462, a second elongateportion 466 may extend toward a free end 468. Such first and secondelongate portions 464, 466 may extend generally parallel relative toeach other. In one embodiment, the first and second elongate portions464, 466 and second bend 462 may exhibit a j-shaped structure. Inanother embodiment, at least one of the first and second bends 460, 462may extend with a radial component 463 such that at least one of thefirst and second bends may also be referenced as first and second radialbends. Such first and second bends may also be referenced as first andsecond radial bends.

Now with reference to FIGS. 22, 22A and 23B, the first and secondbrackets 426, 428 will be described. Each of the first and secondbrackets 426, 428 may be L-shaped brackets with a base 470 and anoutward extension 472, the outward extension 472 extending orthogonalrelative to the base 470. The base 470 may be secured, for example, tothe main body 414 of the outdoor cooking station 412 (see FIG. 20) withbolts such that the first and second brackets 426, 428 may be spaced topivotably couple the holder 410 to the first and second brackets 426,428. The outward extension 472 of the first and second brackets 426, 428may include a coupling structure 474 and an abutment structure 476. Thecoupling structure 474 and the abutment structure 476 may be in the formof bolts or any other suitable structure to facilitate pivotablycoupling the holder 410 thereto as well as to facilitate supporting orabutting the holder 410 at the use position, discussed further herein.Such coupling structure 474 and abutment structure 476 may be sized andconfigured to cooperate with the first and second engaging portions 456,458 of the holder 410 to facilitate the holder 410 to be supported andmoved between the use and stowed positions. In one embodiment, thecoupling structure 474 for each of the first and second brackets 426,428 may be axially aligned relative to each other. In anotherembodiment, the coupling structure 474 of each of the first and secondbrackets may define a pivot axis 482, the pivot axis 482 extendingaxially through the coupling structure 474 of each of the first andsecond brackets 426, 428. In another embodiment, the coupling structure474 may define a radial structure that may correspond with the radialcomponent 463 of the first or second bends 460, 462 of each of the firstand second engaging members 456, 458 to facilitate pivoting or rotatingthe holder 410 about the aligned coupling structures 474. In anotherembodiment, at least one of the first and second bends 460, 462 of eachof the first and second engaging portions 456, 458 of the holder 410 mayinclude the radial component 463 so that the holder 410 may more readilypivot about the coupling structure 474. For example, in anotherembodiment, the second bend 462 of each of the first and second engagingportions 456, 458 may include an inner surface that extends with theradial component 463 to facilitate pivoting the holder 410 about thecoupling structure 474. In another embodiment, the first and secondbends 460, 462 may include the radial component 463 so that the firstand second bends 460, 462 may nest and correspond with surface structureof the coupling structure 474 of the first and second engaging portions456, 458. In this manner, the first and second bends 460, 462 havingstructure, such as the radial component 463, that corresponds with thestructure of the coupling structure 474 may assist the holder 410 toremain stationary upon being in the use or stowed positions, as well asassist in the ease of pivoting the holder 410 between the use or stowedpositions.

Upon the waste bag holder 410 being in the use position, the u-shapedportion 435 of the rod structure 432 may be supported in a generallyhorizontal orientation such that the u-shaped portion 435 may extendgenerally within a horizontally extending plane. Such horizontalorientation may be held or maintained with the first and second engagingportions 456, 458 of the holder 410 engaging the first and secondbrackets 426, 428, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, thefirst bend 460 of each of the first and second engaging portions 456,458 may extend at least partially around the coupling structure 474 ofthe respective first and second brackets 426, 428. Further, the firstelongate portion 464 extending from the first bend 460 of the first andsecond engaging portions 456, 458 may engage or abut the abutmentstructure 476 of the first and second brackets 426, 428. In this manner,the U-shaped portion 435 of the holder 410 may be suspended in thegenerally horizontal orientation, upon the holder 410 being in the useposition.

With reference to FIGS. 22, 25 and 25A, in order to proceed in movingthe holder 410 from the use position or suspended horizontal position tothe stowed position, the holder 410 may first be moved to a liftedposition, as shown by arrow 478. For example, the first and secondengaging members 456, 458 may be moved upward relative to the couplingstructure 474 of the first and second brackets 426, 428 so that thecoupling structure 474 may be moved between the first and secondelongate portions 464, 466 toward the second bend 462. Upon the couplingstructure 474 being positioned adjacent the second bend 462, the firstelongate portion 464 may be moved away from the abutment structure 476so that the first elongate portion 464 may be moved above the abutmentstructure 476 for bypassing the abutment structure 476 when moving theholder 410 to the stowed position. In the lifted position, the holder410 may remain in the generally horizontal orientation.

With reference to FIGS. 25, 26, 26A, and 26B, upon the holder 410 beingmoved to the lifted position, the holder 410 may pivot or rotate aboutthe pivot axis 482 and the coupling structure 474, as depicted byrotational arrow 480, so that the holder 410 may be moved to the stowedposition. Such pivoting of the holder 410 may be implemented such thatthe second bend 462 of the first and second engaging portions 456, 458of the holder 410 may move around the pivot axis 482 and the couplingstructure 474 of the first and second brackets 426, 428, respectively.In the stowed position, the holder 410 may be positioned so as to extendin a generally vertical orientation. Upon the holder 410 being moved tothe pivoted position or stowed position, the u-shaped portion 435 of theholder 410 may extend generally within a vertical plane or in thevertical orientation alongside the vertically extending surface 430 ofthe main body 414 of the outdoor cooking station 412, as depicted inFIG. 21.

As desired by the user, the holder 410 may be readily moved from thestowed position to the use position by pivoting the holder 410 upwardfrom the stowed vertical position so that the u-shaped portion extendsgenerally horizontally and then the holder 410 may be moved downward(opposite direction of arrow 478 in FIG. 25) so that the couplingstructure 474 sits within the first bend 460 and the first elongateportion 464 abuts against the abutment structure 476, as depicted inFIGS. 22 and 22A. In this manner, the holder 410 may be readily pivotedand re-oriented from the vertical stowed position (FIG. 21) to thehorizontal use position (FIG. 20). As depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21, suchstowed position of the holder 410 may be advantageous for reasons ofminimizing the footprint of the holder 410 so that the holder sitsvertically alongside the main body 414 of the cooking station 412.Further, the horizontal use position of the holder 410 is advantageousto users to readily facilitate holding and supporting a trash bag in anopen position around the u-shaped portion 435 of the holder 410 so thata user can better keep the area clean around the cooking station 412while cooking food, similar to that discussed in previous embodimentsherein.

With reference to FIGS. 27, 27A, 28 and 28A, another embodiment of awaste bag holder system 500 sized and configured to couple to an outdoorcooking station 502 is provided. In this embodiment, the waste bagholder system 500 may function in a similar manner as in the previousembodiment, except in this embodiment, the first and second brackets ofthe previous embodiment may not be employed with the system. Forexample, in this embodiment, the waste bag holder system 500 may includea waste bag holder 504 sized and configured to pivot about couplingstructure 506 such that the waste bag holder 504 may be pivotablymoveable between a use position and a stowed position. Further, thewaste bag holder 504 may cooperate with an abutment structure 508, uponthe waste bag holder 504 being in the use position. Further, in thisembodiment, the coupling structure 506 and the abutment structure 508may be fixed directly to a 503 main body of the cooking station 502. Inone embodiment, the coupling structure 506 and the abutment structure508 may be fixed directly to an inside surface 510 of a front verticallyextending frame component 512 and a rear vertically extending framecomponent 514. In some embodiments, the coupling and abutment structures506, 508 may be directly fixed to vertically extending frame componentsthat may be legs. In another embodiment, the coupling structure 506and/or the abutment structure 508 may be in the form of one or morebolts or the like. Similar to the previous embodiment, the couplingstructures 506 fixed to each of the front and rear vertically extendingframe components 512, 514 may be aligned so as to define a pivot axis516 so that the waste bag holder 504 may be pivotably moved to the useand stowed positions. Further, the abutment structures 508 may becoupled to the main body, adjacent corresponding ones of the couplingstructures 506, such that the abutment structures 508 may be alignedrelative to each other. Further, the waste bag holder 504 of thisembodiment may include similar structural and functional characteristicsas in the previous embodiment. For example, the waste bag holder 504 mayextend with a single piece rod structure with multiple bends along thelength thereof to define a u-shaped portion 518 and first and secondengaging portions 520, 522. Such first and second engaging portions 520,522 may be sized and configured to cooperate with the coupling andabutment structures 506, 508, as described in the previous embodiment.Further, as in the previous embodiment, upon the waste bag holder 504being positioned in the use position, the u-shaped portion 518 mayextend with its components to sit substantially or generally within ahorizontal plane, meaning that the u-shaped portion 518 may be orientedwithin the horizontal plane or may be oriented, as a whole, in ahorizontal orientation. Upon the waste bag holder 504 being positionedin a stowed position, the u-shaped portion 518 may extend with itsu-shaped components to sit substantially or generally within a verticalplane, meaning that the u-shaped portion may be oriented within thevertical plane or may be oriented, as a whole, in a vertical orientationor a substantially vertical orientation. In this manner, the waste bagholder 504 with its first and second engaging portions 520, 522 may beemployed to abut or be supported in the use position as well as bemanually lifted and pivoted to manually move the waste bag holder 504between the use and stowed positions.

The various structural components of the various embodiments of thecooking station and the side shelf system and any other structuralcomponents thereof, such as the waste bag holder or other components,may be formed of various metallic materials, such as steel, stainlesssteel, copper, aluminum or any other suitable material with hightemperature ratings, such as various suitable polymeric materials, andbe formed from known structural components, such as sheet metal atvarious gauges/thicknesses or other known metallic structures, such astubing and rod structure or the like, and may be formed and manufacturedthrough various known processes in the art, such as casting, welding,rolling, bending, pressing, fastening, etc., as known by one of ordinaryskill in the art.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.Further, the structural features of any one embodiment disclosed hereinmay be combined or replaced by any one of the structural features ofanother embodiment set forth herein. However, it should be understoodthat the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular formsdisclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waste bag holder device configured to hold a waste bag adjacent a main body of an outdoor cooking station, the waste bag holder device comprising: a first coupling structure and a second coupling structure each configured to be operatively coupled to the main body, the first and second coupling structures being aligned with each other so as to define a pivot axis; a first abutment structure and a second abutment structure each configured to be operatively coupled to the main body, the first and second abutment structures configured to be positioned adjacent the first and second coupling structures, respectively; and a waste bag holder extending with rod structure and configured to be pivotably coupled to the first and second coupling structures, the waste bag holder including: a u-shaped portion extending to first and second corner portions, the u-shaped portion and the first and second corner portions sized and configured to facilitate holding the waste bag thereto; and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, the first and second engaging portions including the rod structure extending from the respective first and second corner portions, the first and second engaging portions being pivotably coupled to the first and second coupling structures, respectively; wherein the waste bag holder is pivotably moveable about the pivot axis between a use position and a stowed position.
 2. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein, in the use position, the first and second engaging portions abut against the first and second abutment structures, respectively, so that the u-shaped portion is positionable within a generally horizontally oriented plane.
 3. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein, in the stowed position, the u-shaped portion is positionable within a generally vertically oriented plane such that the u-shaped portion extends along a vertically oriented surface of the main body.
 4. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the rod structure extends to define a length extending between free ends such that the rod structure extends with multiple bends along the length.
 5. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the rod structure is a single piece member extending to define a length between free ends, the rod structure extending with multiple bends along the length so as to define the waste bag holder.
 6. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bag holder pivotably moveable between the use and stowed positions such that the second radial bend rotates about the pivot axis and the first and second coupling structures.
 7. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bag holder positionable in the use position with the first radial bend of the first and second engaging portions positioned over the first and second coupling structures, respectively, and the first elongate portion of the first and second engaging portions positioned against the first and second abutment structures, respectively.
 8. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, wherein, prior to the waste bag holder being moved to the stowed position, the waste bag holder is moved to a lifted position such that the second radial bend is positioned adjacent the first and second coupling structures so that the waste bag holder is pivotable about the pivot axis to move the waste bag holder to the stowed position.
 9. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the first and second corner portions are defined by an angled extension, the angled extension extending relative to the u-shaped portion such that the first and second corner portions each extend with an acute angle.
 10. The waste bag holder device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling structures are directly coupled to first and second brackets, respectively, the first and second brackets configured to be directly coupled to the main body of the cooking station.
 11. A waste bag holder device configured to hold a waste bag adjacent a main body of an outdoor cooking station, the waste bag holder device comprising: first and second brackets sized and configured to be coupled to the main body, the first and second brackets each including a coupling structure and an abutment structure, the coupling structure of the first and second brackets being aligned with each other so as to define a pivot axis; and a waste bag holder extending with rod structure to define a u-shaped portion and first and second engaging portions, the u-shaped portion sized and configured to facilitate holding the waste bag thereto, the first and second engaging portions being pivotably coupled to the coupling structure of the first and second brackets, respectively, such that the waste bag holder is configured to be pivotably moveable about the pivot axis to move the waste bag holder to a use position or a stowed position.
 12. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein, in the use position, the first and second engaging portions abut against the first and second abutment structures, respectively, so that the u-shaped portion is positionable within a generally horizontally oriented plane.
 13. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein, in the stowed position, the u-shaped portion is positionable within a generally vertically oriented plane such that the u-shaped portion extends along a vertically oriented surface of the main body.
 14. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein the rod structure extends to define a length extending between free ends such that the rod structure extends with multiple bends along the length.
 15. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein the rod structure is a single piece member extending to define a length between free ends, the rod structure extending with multiple bends along the length so as to define the waste bag holder.
 16. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bag holder pivotably moveable between the use and stowed positions such that the second radial bend rotates about the pivot axis and the coupling structure.
 17. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, the waste bag holder positionable in the use position with the first radial bend positioned over the coupling structure, and the first elongate portion positioned against the abutment structure.
 18. The waste bag holder device of claim 11, wherein the first and second engaging portions each extend to define a first radial bend and a second radial bend with a first elongate portion extending therebetween, wherein, prior to the waste bag holder being moved to the stowed position, the waste bag holder is moved to a lifted position such that the second radial bend is positioned adjacent the coupling structure so that the waste bag holder is pivotable about the pivot axis to move the waste bag holder to the stowed position. 